Motor Vehicle Laws Promoting Cyclist Safety

Motorist Laws Promoting Cyclist Safety

The following is a list of motor vehicles laws, enforced by the Amherst Police Department, enacted in an effort to promote safety towards bicyclists.

• Motorists cannot “Door” cyclists. This means that before opening the doors to a vehicle, motorists must make sure that this doesn’t interfere with the flow of traffic, whether it be vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists. MGL C.90§14

• Motorists cannot “Right-Hook” cyclists after passing them. Basically, after passing a cyclists travelling in the same direction, motorists cannot make a right turn unless they are a safe distance away from that cyclists. MGL C.90§14

• Motorists cannot “Squeeze Out” a
cyclists. If a motorist cannot overtake and pass a cyclist at a safe distance in the same lane, a motorist must either use the adjacent lane if it can be done safely, or wait for a safe opportunity to do so. MGL C.90§14

• If a motorist cannot overtake and pass a cyclists at a safe distance in the same lane, a motorist must either use the adjacent lane if it can be done safely, or wait for a safe opportunity to do so. MGL C.90§14

• After overtaking and passing a cyclists, a motorist cannot return to the right lane until it is safe to do so. MGL C.89§2

For more information on these laws and other bicycle safety initiatives, see the MassBike website. Massbike has produced an easy to read informational brochure highlighting the value of using your bicycle as your main method of transportation. This brochure includes tips to insure your safety while cycling.

About Amherst

The Town of Amherst, located in the lovely Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, is a diverse, inclusive community offering numerous educational and cultural opportunities.

Host to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, the Town enjoys a tradition of open, professional, and high level of government services, quality education, support for open space and agriculture, and respect for its history.